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Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Unwrap Your Gifts

I love giving gifts wrapped in pretty paper and ribbons. It's a real delight to make the package beautiful. The real joy, though, is when I present the gift to the recipient and watch her unwrap it.

How disappointing it would be, then, if the person never unwrapped the gift I gave her; how lopsided an affair it would be, for the exchange would be incomplete.

As pretty as any parcel may look on the outside, it is the gift inside that matters. Unopened, it remains un-enjoyed, un-useful, and un-appreciated. I'm reminded of a quote Mary Kay Ash was known to say often: God didn't have time to make a nobody, only a somebody. She truly believed that every person has God-given talents waiting to be 'unwrapped' and brought out of the box of their heart into the open.

Yet, sometimes another person's gift to her world is 'packaged' so beautifully that a less confident person gets the perception that hers is not so wonderful, too little, maybe even second-rate. But that's the problem, isn't it? When every person has gifts of different shapes and sizes and uses, to compare ourselves to others it's quite like comparing ducks to horses. Both are wonderful species, but don't ask a duck to win a Derby race, and don't ask a horse to swim with the grace of one who has webbed feet.

Years ago I read the story of a young girl who took piano lessons; her parents hoped she would become a concert pianist. They found the best teachers and did everything to make it possible for her to succeed. Except, she really didn't have the exceptional ability for it. Not that she didn't have any music ability, just not the right combination to make it in the piano concert world.

As the girl grew up and thought about her life, she took the talent she did have and began to use it to teach music to handicapped children. And what fun she had and what joy they had! They loved her! What if she'd decided that since she was not talented 'enough', she wouldn't do anything at all with her ability? She still opened the gift and used it.

So it's not about fretting that we're not good enough -- it's about taking the size of talent we have and rejoicing that somewhere in this world someone needs and will enjoy what we have to give...........

You may have the gift of inspiring others to believe in themselves. So get busy and lead by inspiring others, all the while letting the teachers in your midst passionately share their love of learning.

You may be a giver by nature, always on the lookout for ways to surprise others. It's a beautiful gift.

Maybe you love serving others by helping them reach their goals or even dishing up dessert at coffee time. Where would we be without you?

And what about the individual with a gift for enthusiasm? In the midst of heated challenges, she can be like a cup of cold water on a scorching day, greatly refreshing someone who has wilted under the heat of pressures and commitments.

When we let go of the fear and just walk in our own giftings, gracefully doing what comes naturally, we will 'naturally' touch the lives of others in ways that will influence and encourage.

15 comments:

Some excellent thoughts on not 'judging' by outward appearances as well as using your gifts for God. On a side note, 2 of my daughters love to wrap gifts and they've made it into such an artform that it's almost a shame to open them! (Almost ...!)

What a beautiful thought! My sister is a nurse; we always knew she would be a fine one because even as a wee one, she knew how to make on feel better. My father always knows how to cut to the chase in an issue; my mother knows how to 'fight city hall.' Gifts come in all kinds of ways -- especially through the wise words of a friend we have never met face-to-face! Thanks, Brenda!

I love this post! We all have something special to share ~ in our own 'niche' ~ but sometimes we have to open our own eyes to it! We are all different, and shouldn't try to fit in someone else's mold...

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

By the way... Thank you for the encouragement and very nice comments on my blog (Lilac & Lavender)

What beautiful thoughts. So well said. I am sharing on the Joy of Serving at a retreat this weekend. I'd like to share some of your post with the gals, if I may. You've said so beautiful what I want to leave them with. Give of yourself - give of the gifts God has given you.~Adrienne~

A lovely Christmas gift idea for the gentle reader on your list. To preview and order copies of my Christmas magazine, click on the pic!

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"Lord, give me an open heart to find You everywhere, to glimpse the heaven enfolded in a bud, and experience eternity in the smallest act of love." ~ Mother Teresa

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Welcome to It's A Beautiful Life! As I celebrate my blog's 10th anniversary, I realize this is still my favourite place to write and connect with fellow kindred spirits. I look forward to the days ahead with renewed inspiration--I hope to carry on the tradition of sharing some of life's beautiful moments with you. There might be some small changes to indicate a passage of time--don't want to get stuck in the past. Will see how that goes. Brenda xox